Does Phentermine Cause Acne & Skin Problems?

This article will discuss the role of Phentermine in the onset and proliferation of acne.

Anti-obesity therapies often include Phentermine to reap the benefits of its appetite-suppressing efficacy, but the drug comes with a list of negative effects too.

A few of these, like palpitation, dizziness, nausea, and sleep disturbance, are commonly known, but how does it affect the skin – the largest organ of your body?

Phentermine can cause hives (urticaria), acne, or mild skin rash, but these effects can be avoided and reversed through regular skincare.

In the following sections, you will find how Phentermine can induce acne and how you can treat it. I have also included some user experiences about phentermine skin reactions.

So, keep reading to get all this information.

Can Phentermine make you break out?

Yes, Phentermine can cause a skin breakout.

Inflammation of skin, acne, and hives are infrequent side effects of Phentermine, but only a small fraction of users have reported these symptoms.

These skin breakouts are likely not caused by the medicine itself but are an offshoot of physiological changes in the body due to quick weight loss, lesser food intake, and other negative effects of Phentermine.

Most weight-loss medicines cause acne due to inhibition of serotonin reuptake- a neural response that increases sebum production and the formation of pimples.

But research shows that Phentermine does not alter extracellular serotonin.

Here are some science-backed facts that infer how different side effects of Phentermine can lead to acne and other skin problems;

Hormonal imbalance

Phentermine is an adrenergic compound and triggers the sympathetic nervous system, increasing the secretion of dopamine and norepinephrine. These hormones produce a psychotic feeling of satiation, and the hunger sensation is suppressed.

As a result, along with quick weight loss, lesser food intake also induces physiological stress and stimulates the secretion of stress hormones.

And we all are well aware of the fact that stress is one of the biggest culprits behind breakouts.

Dehydration

A recurrent side effect of Phentermine is thirst and dry mouth, which is a sign of dehydration. Lack of fluids in the body might manifest themselves as acne pimples.

Because skin glands make more oily secretions to compensate for the water, skin cells readily absorb these fatty products.

In turn, this oil blocks the skin pores and promotes the growth of bacteria there, resulting in skin inflammation.

Insomnia

People taking diet pills often complain about sleepless nights. The reason these drugs interfere with the sleep cycle is that, basically, these compounds are neurostimulators that generate fake nervous responses to diminish the urge to eat.

Research also proves that drugs like phentermine cause insomnia, reducing both the quality and interval of sleep.

And this disturbed sleep pattern could be a reason for your skin breakout after regular phentermine dosage.

This study concludes that the severity of acne and sleep quality are mutually related. And a lack of quality sleep would make acne worse.

Last but not least, sleep deprivation makes skin immuno-sensitive; it quickly shows a reaction to sebum and microbes. Resultantly, you see pus-filled pustules over the skin.

Depression

Palpitation and nervousness are common side effects of Phentermine, and observations from research confirm its potential to induce psychosis.

These depressive feelings are actually an adverse byproduct of nervous stimulations caused by the drug.

That, in turn, messes up your mental peace and also your pretty looks.

In a research conducted among medical students, participants with high-stress levels also had high acne severity.

Hence, since depression is directly proportional to the release of stress-inducing hormones (e.g., cortisol), you are likely to experience breakouts with the use of Phentermine.

Digestive issues

Digestive problems caused due to Phentermine can also result in skin reactions because intestinal ailments like constipation and diarrhea disturb gut microbial communities. These microbiotas are essential for gut and skin health as well.

Besides that, improper digestion leads to a poor supply of nutrients to skin cells which become more susceptible to damage.

Long term effects of Phentermine on your skin

Although skin reactions due to Phentermine are quite rare yet such symptoms tend to last for a good duration.

A user who took Phentermine for 3 weeks reported that she broke out into hives within 72 hours after she began the medication. And her skin was not cleared of those bumps even 3 weeks after quitting the medicine.

Many others have shared how their skin broke out badly after starting this weight loss supplement in the Reddit streak. One of them mentioned that her acne flare-up was so intolerable that she finally had to quit using Phentermine.

Furthermore, a girl with PCOS revealed that her acne got 10 times worse after taking Phentermine.

Another person had to check with the dermatologist but adapting a skincare routine helped her a lot. She recommended drinking Plenty of water to avoid dehydration-induced acne from Phentermine.

Most importantly, long-term or short-term, you must not take Phentermine in concentrated doses and should stick with your doctor’s prescription. Here’s the reason why:

Results from a clinical trial show that 14% of participants who took 7.5 mg of Phentermine reported paresthesia (skin rash and redness), but the proportion jumped to 21% when they used tablets containing 15.0 mg of Phentermine.

Phentermine and skin problems – how to cope with them?

If you are using Phentermine and have got pimples and hives on your face, arms, or back, the following remedies can help you cope with these skin problems.

1. Following a skincare routine

Keeping your skin from breaking out doesn’t necessarily require using luxury products and expensive tools. Even if you do the following 6 simple steps regularly, I can assure you that your acne will get better over time.

• Cleansing

Gently cleanse your skin twice a day. Try to avoid antibacterial soaps as they may increase the dryness of the skin.

• Tone it up

Use a toner to massage your skin; it will cut off excessive oils and sebum.

• Moisturize

Add a water-based moisturizer to your daily routine. As skin hydration improves, sebum production is decreased, and acne heads will start fading off.

• Sunscreen

Heat and UV rays from the sun can aggravate your acne, so you must wear protection. People with acne-prone skin are recommended to use SPF 30 or above.

• Facemask

Although it is not necessary to apply a facemask daily but doing so once or twice a week will visibly improve your skin health.

You can use store-bought water-based products to save time but DIY homemade masks made with natural ingredients from your kitchen will also work as effectively.

2. Drinking plenty of water

As we know, dehydration is one of the most obvious underlying reasons for breakouts; drinking a lot of water is non-negotiable.

Water is required for maintaining the homeostasis in skin cells; when parched, they die sooner and lose their ability to resist pathogenic attacks from bacteria.

Not to mention that accumulation of dry cells, sebum, oils, and bacterial invasion all add up to make acne worse.

Water also acts as a natural detox agent and immunity booster; hence, it will clear your skin from acne and make it resistant to future breakouts.

3. Using Green Tea

Green tea extract makes it to almost every natural skin care product, and no wonder why.

Its because herbal infusions like green tea contain many polyphenols, these molecules are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Therefore, it plays an effective role in reducing acne lesions and spots because polyphenols tend to minimize sebum and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands.

So, when the oily sebaceous layer over skin pores is cleared, skin cells get proper aeration.

An interesting scientific finding is that applying green tea paste over acne is more effective than interesting the drink orally.

4. Adding Omega 3 to your diet

Acne can also be fought if you increase the quantity of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in your diet.

Both these compounds are known to ameliorate skin conditions.

A controlled study suggests omega 3 as a safe treatment for acne patients because inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions of acne were significantly reduced after the 10-week trial.

You can opt for omega 3 or 6 supplements or use more seafood, avocados, and green vegetables because they all have a good amount of these fatty acids.

5. Trying Aloe Vera gel

Aloe is well known for its detox properties. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that are used to cleanse wounds and heal burns for a long time.

Research shows that aloe gel is effective for the treatment of mild to severe acne. It decreases the number of papules and also improves skin texture.

As Aloe promotes the growth of new skin cells, it might also help you get rid of acne scars.

Why we Prefer PhenQ to Phentermine

PhenQ is a powerful weight loss supplement that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Unlike many other diet pills on the market, PhenQ focuses not only on reducing calorie intake and burning more calories through increased activity but also on lowering overall appetite and increasing feelings of satiety.

This makes it a safer and more effective alternative to prescription drugs like Phentermine, which can cause serious side effects such as dizziness, nausea, dehydration, hormonal imbalance, insomnia, and depression.

What’s more, unlike traditional weight loss methods like fad diets or extreme exercise regimens, using PhenQ can help you achieve lasting results over time by preventing weight gain after you have reached your weight loss goals.

So if you’re looking for a safe way to lose weight and keep it off for good, look no further than PhenQ.

Read more about PhenQ appetite suppressant here

Wrap Up

As you must have concluded from the information provided above that, Phentermine doesn’t necessarily cause breakouts in everyone all by itself.

Instead, it’s its side effects like dehydration, hormonal imbalance, stress, interruptions in the sleep cycle, and other physiological changes that can lead to acne flare-ups.

However, you can cope with these effects by keeping yourself well-hydrated and following a simple skincare regimen like the one shared above.

Besides that, the inclusion of herbal products like green tea and aloe vera may also help to detoxify the epithelial layer.

However, if you feel like none of these remedies are working for you, and it’s just getting worse, I’d recommend you stop using the drug right away and consult with your doctor.